Plating apparatus



Nov. 22, 1938. 'A. M. WAGNER PLATING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 22, 1938.

A. M WAGNER PLATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PLATING APPARATUS Arthur M. Wagner, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,348

12 Claims.

This invention relates to plating apparatus, and more particularly to a device for holding small headed articles during electro-deposition of a coating thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the handling of small parts during the plating thereof.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, two spaced parallel plates are provided, each having a plurality of rows of apertures therein for receiving headed articles, the heads of which are to' be plated. One of the plates carries a series of wires corresponding in number to the number of rows of apertures and is shiftable laterally with respect to the other plate so that the wires will engage the shanks of the articles in opposite plates to exert a clamping action to hold the articles in good frictional engagement with the plates and in good conducting engagement with the wires.

In another embodiment of the invention, two plates are provided, one of which, i. e., the back plate, has apertures larger than the shanks of the articles to be plated and has wires extending across these apertures to clamp articles positioned in apertures in the other plate. i. e., the front plate, against the edges of the apertures in the front plate.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a rack constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and having articlesthe heads of which are to be plated supported thereby, parts being broken away to simplify the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the rack shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3. of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the second mentioned embodiment of the invention, and 4 Fig. 51s a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views, particular reference being had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a plate It] is provided having a large number of apertures l I formed therein arranged in rows from the top of the plate to the bottom (Figs. 1 and 2) In the embodiment of the invention now being described, there are provided six rows containing a large number of apertures ll arranged in straight rows from the top of the plate to the bottom, the plate It] has secured to it at its upper end (Figs. 1 and 2) a cross member l2 to which is secured the usual type of U-shaped hook l3 for supporting the rack in a plating bath, a second hook [4 being secured to the hook I3 for the purpose of providing a handle for the rack. Fixedly mounted in the cross member l2 are a series of pins l5, there being three pins l5 provided in the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein. The cross member I2 is secured to the right side (Fig. 2) of the upper end of the plate I0, and on the left side of the plate ID a second cross member I6 is fixed. The cross member l6 has a series of six slots I! cut therein in substantially direct alignment with the rows of perforations II. The lower end of the plate II! has a cross member 20 secured to the right side thereof (Fig. 2) which is similar to the cross member l2 differing therefrom in that it has six pins 2|, similar to the pins I5, mounted therein. The surface of the plate I0, opposite to that upon which the cross member 20 is mounted, has a slotted bar 22, similar to the cross member l6, mounted thereon in which'are provided six slots or grooves 23.

The cross member [2 is provided with a pair of threaded apertures 25 and the cross member 20 is provided with a single threaded aperture 26 for receiving screws 28 and 29 whereby a back plate 30 shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 may be temporarily secured adjacent to the right hand side (Fig. 2) of the plate III for holding a series of rivets or bolts 3| in the plate Ill during the assembly of the device.

The plate I0 is provided with four apertures 40 at its right hand side (Fi 1) and four apertures 40 adjacent its left hand side, in which assembly bolts 4| may be secured. The bolts 4| have associated therewith tubular spacers 42 whereby a second apertured plate 44 may be mounted in spaced relation to the apertured plate I 0. A plurality of slots 49 are formed in the edges of the plate 44 into which the bolts 4| will extend when the plates l0 and 44 are assembled. When the plates are assembled they are clamped together by threading nuts 43 on the bolts ll whereby the plates will be held in spaced relation parallel to each other.

Guide members 45 are secured as by welding or riveting to plates l0 and M at spaced intervals for holding wires 46, attached to pins 2| andstretched around pins l5, midway between the two plates when the plates are assembled. Y

The right hand end of the cross members I! and 20 (Figs. 1 and 3) are bent at right angles to the rest of the cross member to provide portions 50 and 60 which extend out beyond the plate 44 and are slotted at 5| and GI to receive the shanks of bolts 52 and 62. The threaded portion of the bolts 52 and 62 are threaded into apertures 54 and 64 formed in blocks 55 and 65 secured to the plate 44. It will be noted that the edges of the blocks 55 and 65 and the cross members I2 and 2|] are rounded off as shown at 54, 66, 51 and 58, respectively, to permit the insertion of members to be plated in. the two plates l4 and 44 at points closely adjacent the blocks 55 and 65 and cross members 2 and 20 without interfering with the plating of the parts.

In using the improved form of plating rack disclosed hereinbefore, a number of headed members such as the rivets or bolts II the heads of which are to be plated, are inserted in the plate II with the heads of the members to be plated extending toward that surface of the plate ID on which the cross members l2 and 20 are secured whereupon the back plate 30 is secured temporarily to the cross members I2 and 20 to hold the headed members in place on the plate ll during the further assembly operations of the rack.

The plate ll may then be turned over without dropping the members to be plated out of the plate ll. After the headed members have been thus assembled in the plate It, one of the wires 4 is attachedto the right hand pin 2| and extended upwardly (Fig. 1) through the slot 23 at the left hand side (Fig. 1) of the right hand row of rivets or bolts 3|, thence through the right hand slot l1 and over the right hand pin l5 back through the second slot I! from the right and second slot 23 from the right to the second pin 2| from the right where it is' secured. Wires 46 are similarly stretched from the other pins 2| around the remaining pins l5 so that a wire will be closely adjacent the left hand side (Fig. 1) of the stud of each rivet or bolt 3| mounted in the plate II. All of the apertures in the plate 44 are then filled withrivets or bolts 3|, the heads extending to the left (Fig. 2). The plate 44 is then placed in position upon the members I and 22, and the shanks of the rivets or bolts 3| mounted in the plate 44 will be to the left of the wires 40. After the plate 44 has been thus placed in position, the nuts 43 may be tightened somewhat to hold the plate 44 against movement away from the plate I!) whereupon the bolts 52 and 62 are tightened to draw the plate 44 to the right to make all of the studs of the rivets or bolts 3| mounted therein force the wires 48 against the studs of the rivets or bolts 3| mounted in the plate Ill, thereby to place all of the studs mounted in both plates under sufficient tension to hold them in the rack. The rack may then be inserted in a plating tank to plate the heads of the headed members and if desired, the heads may be buffed or polished without removing them from the rack.

By rounding off the corners of those parts of the rack adjacent the heads to be plated, substantially the entire surface of both plates may be utilized for supporting parts to be plated without the plating current being taken up by sharp edges which would otherwise prevent the heads of the members adjacent the parts 55, 55, I2 and 24 from receiving an even coat of plating material. 'I'he wires 46 which are preferably copper wires, serve to establish contact with the articles to be plated, thereby to make certain that the plating current is conducted through each artiole. The plates I and 44 may be of metal or insulating material. In some instances, particularly if a costly plating material is being used, these plates if made of metal may be protected with a protective coating such as a cellulose derivative lacquer or other organic, resistant coatmg.

In the form of the invention just described, it will be noted that the plates l0 and 44 serve as shields preventing any substantial amount of plating on the shanks of the rivets, since the anodes (not shown) are suspended facing the heads of the rivets.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, particularly adapted to parts having a short shank and whose heads are to be plated, an arrangement somewhat similar to that heretofore described is utilized. A plate ID has a series of apertures 16 formed therein in which parts 15 having relatively short shanks 11 may be inserted with the headsof the parts 15 engaging the lower surface (Fig. of the plate 10. A second plate 18 is provided having pear shaped apertures 19 and having a plurality of slots 80 formed therein extending between apertures 19 in eachrow and being positioned so that a wire 8| passed over pins similar to the pins l5 and 2| will be in a position where the shanks ofthe members 15 will, upon assembly of the two plates and 18, pass into the smaller semi-circular portion of the pear shaped apertures '19 and the wire 8| will be to the right of the shanks (Figs. 4 and 5). The plates 10 and 18 are assembled with the lower surface of one plate engaging the upper surface of the other and, therefore, no spacers 42 are used in this embodiment of the invention. Bolt assemblies similar to the assembly bolts 52 and 62 and cooperating parts are provided for causing a transverse movement of the plates 10 and 18 after they are assembled so that the shank of each member will deform the wire 8| and through the contact of the members l5 therewith the members will be held in position on a plating rack which has all the other structural features of the previously described rack with the exception that the parts will be mounted only in one plate due' to the fact that the shanks of the parts are of insufiicient length to permit supporting them in the manner previously described.

In using either of the plating racks disclosed hereinbefore, the removal of parts from the racks is accomplished by simply loosening the bolts 52 and 62 which will permit the plated articles to fall out of the plates.

What is claimed is:

l. A plating rack comprising a plate apertured to receive extending portions of articles to be plated, a second plate similarly apertured and slidable with respect to said first mentioned plate and spaced from the first plate to form a free space between said plates, a clamping element secured to one of said plates and extending in said space to hold the articles in response to movement of said plate, and guides on said plate and in engagement with the clamping element for spacing said clamping element from the plates.

2. A plating rack comprising two spaced parallel plates each having rows of apertures therein for receiving extending portions of articles to be plated, a series of wires extending into said space and having their ends secured to one of said plates and corresponding in number to the number of rows of apertures in each plate, and

means for moving the plates laterally with respect to each other to engage the wires with the extending portions of the articles to clamp the articles in position in the plates.

3. A plating rack including a plate apertured to receive extending portions of articles to be plated, a second plate also apertured to receive said extending portions of the articles, and a clamping element secured to said second plate and extending across the apertures therein to clamp, the articles against the first mentioned plate.

4. A plating rack including a member having a plurality of apertures conforming to the shape of extending portions of articles to be plated, a member having aplurality of apertures therein of a different shape, and clamping means extending across the apertures in said second member for exerting a clamping action on articles inserted in the first mentioned plate.

5. A plating rack comprising a member having a plurality of apertures conforming to the shape of extending portions of articles to be plated, a member having a plurality of apertures therein of a shape not conforming to the shape of said extending portions, clamping means extending across the apertures in said second memher, and means for shifting the members transversely with respect to .each other to cause said clamping means to force the extending portions of said articles against the sides of said apertures to clamp the parts in the rack.

6. A plating rack for holding headed parts during the plating of the heads thereof comprising a pair of plates each having a plurality of rows of apertures in which the shanks of a plurality of parts may be inserted, means for assembling the plates back to back and in spaced relation whereby said shanks extend into thespace between the plates, clamping means supported by one of the plates, and means for shifting the plates laterally to cause the shanks of the parts in one of the plates to render the clamping means effective to clamp the parts in both plates.

7. A plating rack comprising a pair of apertured plates for receiving the shanks of articles the heads of which are to be plated, means for holding one. of said plates in a plane parallel to the other of said plates in spaced backto back relation so that the shanks extend into the space between the plates, means for moving one of said plates laterally of the other while they are parallel to each other, and a clamping means secured to one of said plates for exerting a clamping action on articles in both plates when the plates are moved transversely with respect to each other.

8. A plating rack comprising a pair of apertured plates for receiving the shanks of articles the heads of which are to be plated,.means for holding one of said plates in a plane parallel to the other of said plates in spaced back to back relation so that the shanks extend into the space between the plates, means for moving one of said plates laterally of the other while they are parallel to each other, and a clamping means secured to one of said plates for clamping the articles in opposite plates against opposite sides. of the apertures therein.

9. A plating rack comprising a pair of apertured plates for receiving the shanks of articles the heads of which are to be plated, means for holding one of said plates in a plane parallel to the other of said plates in spaced back to back relation so that the shanks extend into the space between the plates, means for moving one of said plates laterally of the other while they are parallel to each other, and wires secured to one of said plates in a position to be clamped between the shanks of articles 'in the plates to hold said articles in the apertures in the plates when the plates are moved laterally with respect to each other.

10. A plating rack comprising a pair of plates,

- a plurality of passages arranged in rows in said plates through which the shanks of articles, the heads of which are to be plated, may be passed, a plurality of wires secured to the opposite ends of one of said plates, guide members for positioning one of said wires closely adjacent each row of passages in said plate to which the wires are secured, means for holding said plates in parallel planes, and means for moving one of said plates with respect to the other to cause the wire secured to one plate to be clamped between the protruding shanks of the articles in the plates thereby to hold the articles in the plates.

11. In a plating rack, a member having a row of openings to receive articles to be plated, a plate having a row of openings similar to the openings in said member, a wire fixed at its ends and strung substantially parallel to the row of openings in the plate and the row of openings in the member, means for supporting said wire in position parallel to said rows of openings, and means for causing said wire to be pressed laterally against the articles.

12. An article supporting rack comprising a pair of apertured plates for receiving the shanks of articles to be supported, means for holding one of said plates in a plane parallel to the other of said plates in spaced back to back relation so that the shanks extend into said space, means for moving one of said plates laterally of the other while they are parallel to each other, and a clamping means secured to one of said plates for exerting a clamping action on the articles in the plates when the plates are moved transversely with respect to each other.

ARTHUR M. WAGNER. 

